Designated for publication Oldham, J. (Dennis, Engelhardt, Oldham), criminal, sentencing Vacating sentence–120-month sentences on each of three counts of possession of a firearm by a felon, to run consecutively “[o]nly to the extent it produces a total aggregate of 188 months”–as impermissibly vague, and remanding for resentencing. The Court held that the district court did … More August 7, 2023, opinions
Designated for publication Dennis, J. (King, Jones, Dennis), Jones, J., dissenting, voting rights, Eighth Amendment, Equal Protection, standing, sovereign immunity, Ex parte Young Reversing district court’s dismissal of plaintiff class’s Eighth Amendment challenge to Mississippi constitution’s permanent disenfranchisement of certain felons; affirming dismissal of plaintiff class’s Equal Protection claim against the Mississippi Secretary of State … More August 4, 2023, opinions
Designated for publication per curiam (Richman, Ho, Engelhardt), Ho, J., concurring in judgment only; § 1983 Affirming dismissal of § 1983 and other claims by plaintiffs–survivors of man who committed suicide after his arrest for involvement in a scheme to take a picture of Senator’s nursing-home-bound wife for use in a campaign video. The Court … More July 27, 2023, opinions
Designated for publication Elrod, J. (King, Smith, Elrod), criminal, sex offender registration Reversing order granting request to terminate sex offender registration obligation. The Court held that “the unambiguous language of the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act deems Nazerzadeh a tier II sex offender, and … that status demands that his registration continues.” Graves, J. … More July 11, 2023, opinions
Designated for publication Stewart, J. (Richman, Stewart, Douglas), prisoner suit Dismissing appeal of dismissal of Texas state prisoner’s suit against medical personnel, upon denying motion to proceed in forma pauperis under 28 U.S.C. § 1915(g) and upon failure to pay required filing fees. The Court held that the plaintiff has accumulated more than three strikes … More July 10, 2023, opinions
Designated for publication King, J. (King, Jones, Duncan), habeas corpus, ineffective assistance of counsel Affirming denial of habeas relief on ineffective assistance of counsel claim. Under AEDPA’s “doubly deferential review,” the Court held that the petitioner’s trial counsel’s failure to object to lay and expert testimony about the credibility of a child’s testimony was “arguably … More July 7, 2023, opinions
Designated for publication Graves, J. (Graves, Willett, Engelhardt), qualified immunity Affirming qualified immunity summary judgment in favor of officer defendant based on shots he fired into sedan as he stood directly in front of car and driver ignored multiple commands from the officers; but reversing qualified immunity summary judgment in favor of officer defendants for … More May 17-18, 2023, opinions
Designated for publication Elrod, J. (Dennis, Elrod, Duncan), Dennis, J., dissenting in part; Duncan, J., dissenting in part; legislative privilege, appellate jurisdiction, standing Affirming district court’s order that Mississippi legislators must provide a privilege log for documents they contend are subject to the legislative privilege, but reversing district court’s order that the legislative privilege is … More May 10, 2023, opinions
Designated for publication Higginbotham, J. (Higginbotham, Southwick, Willett), prisoner suit Affirming dismissal of Texas state prisoner’s § 1983 claim for impeding access to medical care after the onset of stroke symptoms, upon holding that plaintiff’s claims were malpractice claims but did not allege a deprivation of constitutionally secured rights. The Court held, “We conclude that … More May 5-8, 2023, opinions
Designated for publication Higginson, J. (Clement, Graves, Higginson), breach of contract, mootness Affirming district court’s affirmance of bankruptcy court’s denial of motion to assume an executory contract, upholding finding that there was insufficient evidence in the record to show that, under Texas law, there was sufficient identification of the property or an offer or acceptance … More May 3, 2023, opinions
